How to Use a Rug Pad to Keep a Rug From Slipping and Moving on Carpet

As versatile as they are in lending the finishing touch to a room - not to mention covering up spots on the carpet - area rugs can skim over carpets unexpectedly and cause a safety hazard. A non-stick rug pad is an inexpensive way to keep an area rug from slipping on a carpet. The tacky surface keeps the rug in place while the cushioning adds comfort when you walk or sit on the rug. With a pair of kitchen shears and a tape measure, you're good to go.

Buy a rug pad made of non-slip material. It doesn't have to be the exact size as your area rug. Measure the area rug. With a pair of heavy duty scissors or kitchen shears, trim the pad until it's a bit smaller than the rug it will go under. If the rug pad is way too small, simply slice it into sections. They can be laid out at intervals over the area the rug covers.

Vacuum the carpet and get it steam cleaned. Once it is fully dry, lay the rug pad or pieces down with the rough, sticky side facing down. Depending on the type of rug pad, there may be alternate directions--do what the manufacturer instructs. Lay the area rug on top of the rug pad or the pieces of rug pad.

You may be able to wash your rug pad in the washing machine, depending on the material it's made of.

Special measures should be taken for stair runners. Area rugs running over carpeting on stairs can be particularly hazardous for the elderly, who could slip. Have a carpet installer fix the rug to the carpet and floor underneath using staples, nails or carpet tacks. This obviously won't work for carpets laid over a concrete floor.

It may be tempting to try to tape the rug pad to the area rug. It might do the job, but it leaves a residue of adhesive on the carpet that is hard to get off except by adhesive solvent, which could damage the carpet.